Mar/22/08 03:04 PM Filed in:
Jonathan
Vilma
Newly-acquired middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma spoke
with reporters and updated the health of his surgically
repaired right knee on the first day of the team's
offseason program last week.
Vilma, who was obtained from the New York Jets in
exchange for a conditional draft pick on Feb. 29,
played in just seven games last season before
undergoing season-ending surgery on the knee.
The Saints are hoping that Vilma will return to the
form that he showed in his first three NFL seasons as
they try to improve their 26th-ranked defense.
"I plan to spend as much time as I can here in New
Orleans," Vilma said of the Saints' 12-week program. "I
have been rehabbing down in Miami and I have a trainer
down there, so both trainers will be talking with each
other and deciding what's best for me.
"I don't want to give a percentage, but I'll say I'm
right where I need to be," he said. "It's been
progressing very well and I haven't had any setbacks,
knock on wood."
(saintsinsider.com)
Mar/22/08 03:28 AM Filed in:
James Jones
James Jones - MVP. The Suns were so desperate to
get rid of James Jones' contract that they sold him to
the Blazers along with Fernandez in what may turn out
to be the worst trade in NBA history. All Jones
has done is make 49% of his threes this season.
He also appears to be incredibly important to the
team's fortunes. It was shortly after Jones
returned from an early season injury that the Blazers
won 13 straight. It was after he got hurt again
that they lost 9 of 11. Portland is 8-16 without
Jones this season - leaving them 27-17 with him.
(clipsnation.com)
Mar/21/08 05:45 PM Filed in:
Jonathan
Vilma
Jonathan Vilma, linebacker of the New Orleans Saints
and a former University of Miami standout, and the
South Florida Educational Federal Credit Union conduct
the inaugural Financial 51 Summit noon-5 p.m. Saturday,
March 22 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables.
The agenda of the summit is to promote financial
literacy and empowerment to the youth. Through
research, it was found the majority of graduating high
school students fall short of having basic skills in
personal financial management knowledge.
The average young adult is deficient in the fundamental
principles involved with earning, spending, saving and
investing. In response to the findings, Vilma and South
Florida Educational FCU will hold the summit with a few
of Vilma's NFL friends.
(miamiherald.com)
Mar/21/08 08:02 AM Filed in:
Brett Romberg
Last year, the St. Louis Rams, saddled with injuries to
their offensive linemen, had to reach into their bench
and outside the organization to find players who could
compete for starting jobs.
Center Brett Romberg, one of those players who helped
from the bench, reached agreement Thursday on a
one-year deal to re-sign in St. Louis. Terms were not
available. Romberg, 28, started nine games and played
more than 50 percent of the snaps.
He becomes the third offensive lineman to re-sign. In
the past couple of weeks, the Rams reached one-year
deals with guard Adam Goldberg and tackle Brandon
Gorin. They also signed Jacob Bell from the Titans to a
six-year, $36 million deal.
Romberg, 6 feet 2 and 298 pounds, is a success story.
He was an undrafted player out of the University of
Miami, spent four years in Jacksonville as a backup and
joined the Rams two years ago. In those two seasons,
Romberg played in 19 games and had 10 starts.
Due to all of the injuries and the return of most of
the players who filled those roles, Rams coach Scott
Linehan will have a good stable of options with
starting experience. Romberg has a chance to start at
center, or, if needed, help out at guard.
(espn.com)
Mar/21/08 08:02 AM Filed in:
Kevin Everett
The 1st annual Kevin Everett Golf Classic Weekend has
been announced and will take place on July 6th and 7th.
Proceeds will obviously benefit the Kevin Everett
Foundation and Spinal Cord Injury Research and
Assistance.The weekend will begin with the 12th Man
Tailgate Party on July 6th from 4-8pm at Brierwood C.C.
in Hamburg. Then on the 7th will be the inaugural golf
tournament beginning at 11 am that day.
Tickets go on sale April 15th and will be $40 per
ticket for the tailgate party or $125 for a four ticket
“Fan Pack.” For the golf tournament
foursomes are $2,500.
For more information on this event you can go to
http://www.kevineverettgolf.com/home
You can e-mail the organizers of the event at
KE85GOLF@showcasesports.net with any questions or
to reserve a sponsorship, foursome, or to make a
donation.
(wordpress.buffalobills.com)
Mar/21/08 08:00 AM Filed in:
Chris Myers
Myers was interviewed by Houston’s Sports Radio
610’s Marc and Andre on how he feels about
leaving Denver for Houston. Myers said it is
“kind of bittersweet.” Myers told the
Morning Crew, “I love Denver, love the
organization, love the team, and I had a great time
there for three seasons. But I’m really anxious
and excited to get going with the Texans. You know, we
got a young team and everyone’s on the same path,
the same goal right now. And that’s what kind of
drew me down to Houston.”
The Houston Chronicle’s John “the
General” McClain also spoke with Myers on why
leaving Denver was “bittersweet.” Myers
told McClain, “I kind of made my way up the
ladder and finally got a starting position last
year.” To Myers’ dismay in Denver,
Broncos’ starting C Nalen will be healthy in
2008, leaving him out of a starting job there. But here
in Houston, Myers will have the chance to earn his
starting job for a young, athletic Texans’
offensive line.
Myers also spoke with 610 about his new contract.
Before being traded to the Texans, Myers signed a
four-year, $11 million contract with a $3 million
signing bonus with the Broncos. He told 610, “to
be honest, it hasn’t hit me yet. It’s
definitely not full on my mind. Once I get down to
Houston and start working out I’m sure it’s
going to start hitting me then. It’s a dream come
true. Every athlete looks forward to being a fulltime
starter and getting that contract, and it’s
amazing, I’m very grateful for it. It’s
kind of like all the hard work is paying off.”
Myers also spoke with Marc and Andre about the tight
end, transferred-tackle, he played opposite to at the
“U.” At Miami, Myers played tackle opposite
to Eric Winston. Myers said that Winston’s
nickname was the “Neanderthal, because he looked
exactly like that.” And it seems he’ll fit
right in with the Texans chemistry as he said, “I
look forward to cracking some jokes with the offensive
linemen.”
On Myers’ comfort with Kubiak and Gibbs’
system and terminology from his experience in Denver,
Myers told 610, “It’s pretty close, and
obviously there’s going to be a few things that
are going to be skewed. (And a) few terminologies that
you got to learn, but for the most part it’s
almost identical. (Gibbs) put that over in Denver, and
he’s putting it in here and that was the one
thing for them to look out my way just because I had
that experience in Denver and that’s one of the
reasons they closed (in on) me right away. I’m
really anxious to get it going and we got a lot of
athletes on this offensive line and we’re going
to do some crazy things.”
On the other side, Head Coach Kubiak told the Houston
Chronicle about Myers, “It’s an instant
fit. He knows our system, and he knows our terminology.
We know him, and we know what kind of player he is and
what he stands for. He’s young, and he’s
tough as nails.”
Texans fans are probably just as anxious to see the
youth movement continue and see Myers’ get a shot
at the starting job here in Houston as C Steve McKinney
and C Chris White are coming off season ending injuries
from 2007.
(texansgab.com)
Mar/21/08 08:00 AM Filed in:
Sean Taylor
A Fort Myers teen said she was wrongly dragged into
football player Sean Taylor’s murder case when
the mother of a former friend told prosecutors she let
the suspects use a rented vehicle Alexia Anderson, 19,
of Fort Myers said Thursday she was made the scapegoat
and has no connection to the crime.
“I got nothing to do with it,” she said.
“It’s all on her, but she used my
name.”
Anderson came to The News-Press on Thursday after
seeing a story last week about documents Miami
prosecutors released in Taylor’s case. Police
believe Eric Rivera, 17, Venjah Hunte, 20, and Charles
Wardlow, 18, all of Fort Myers, and Jason Mitchell, 19,
of Lehigh Acres, drove to Miami on Nov. 26 to
burglarize Taylor’s house. A grand jury
indictment revealed Rivera shot the Washington Redskins
safety in the leg. Taylor died the next day of blood
loss.
Included in the documents released to The News-Press
was a statement by Rosemarie Johnson of Lehigh Acres.
Johnson told prosecutors and detectives in December she
rented a Toyota Highlander for Anderson and Anderson
gave the vehicle to Wardlow. Police said the four drove
the Highlander to Miami to commit the crime.
But Anderson said Johnson’s daughter, Romaine,
got $250 from Wardlow to use the vehicle. Anderson said
Romaine told her the money would go to pay a phone bill
and to style her hair.
Anderson said Rosemarie Johnson frequently rents
vehicles for her daughter, who often lets friends use
them for joy riding. Efforts to reach Johnson on
Thursday were unsuccessful.
“She was lying,” Anderson said of her
former friend. “The night before, she had already
gotten the money from them boys.”
Anderson said she doesn’t know Wardlow, is a
distant relative of Rivera and that she doesn’t
know him very well.
She said she was upset and scared when she found out
she has been connected to the case. She said detectives
haven’t contacted her.
Prosecutors have been releasing documents from the case
to the media, the most recent coming Wednesday —
crime scene reports detailing how police believe the
suspects got into Taylor’s house. All four have
pleaded not guilty.
(news-press.com)
Mar/21/08 07:59 AM Filed in:
Ryan Braun
Leftfielder Ryan Braun was back in the lineup after
being scratched from two of his last three starts
because of stiffness in his right Achilles' tendon.
Yost said he would have scratched Braun again if he
experienced any discomfort during batting practice.
The staff thought the stiffness was caused by new
spikes Braun wore in the outfield with a soft heel that
created a strain on his Achilles' tendon. He had worn
molded or plastic cleats in the infield since high
school.
(jsonline.com)
Mar/21/08 02:26 AM Filed in:
Jason
Michaels
David Dellucci and Jason Michaels have more in common
than playing left field for the Cleveland Indians.
Both are aggressive players willing to do whatever they
can to stay in the lineup. Neither likes sharing his
job, and both deal with the part-time status by
attacking each opportunity straight on.
Manager Eric Wedge believes their combined tenacity
will make the second year of the platoon plan a
success.
"If you add it all together, I think we'll do much
better out there," Wedge said Thursday.
"Jason does a heck of a job against left-handed
pitchers and is really committing to be better against
right-handers. I really feel like if David can stay
healthy, he's going to have a good year. He's a good
hitter."
Michaels is having a strong spring, hitting .323
(14-for-36) with three homers, four RBIs and two stolen
bases.
"I still believe I can play every day and make a
contribution," said the 31-year-old, who held a
starting job two seasons ago in his first year in
Cleveland before sharing the position with Dellucci and
then midseason pickup Kenny Lofton in 2007.
"It's tough to platoon, but when your role changes, you
have to change with it," Michaels said. "This game is
about adjustments."
Click here to continue
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Mar/20/08 08:20 AM Filed in:
Alex Cora
FORT MYERS - Ask Alex Cora [stats] what he remembers
most about playing baseball in Japan, and he
won’t take you down the usual road of culture
shock, language barriers and the many hours it took to
make the trip.
Not right away. First, the Red Sox [team stats] utility
infielder will talk to you about batting practice.
Cora was on a team of major league All-Stars -
“See, I really was an All-Star,” he likes
to say - for an eight-game series against Japanese
All-Stars in November 2004. When he arrived at the
ballpark for the first game, he was shocked to see that
the Japanese take batting practice with two players
hitting at the same time.
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Mar/19/08 10:29 PM Filed in:
Dan Morgan
| Jonathan
Vilma
The considerable lack of talent and playmaking ability
at the linebacker position last year played a major
role in the putridity of the Saints defense.
Fortunately, that issue has since been addressed.
Jonathan Vilma and Dan Morgan, if healthy, will
immediately morph the Saints’ linebacking corps
into a top-five unit.
Scott Shanle and Mark Simoneau will provide depth
should Morgan or Vilma go down. That’s a
good thing, I think. Shale and Simoneau are
better suited as backups anyway. They’ve
both got good instincts, but not necessarily the
superior athleticism needed to be a starting linebacker
in the NFL.
Vilma and Morgan have both produced at a pro bowl level
at one time or another in their career. Vilma was
2004 Defensive Rookie of the Year and Morgan made 25
tackles in the 2004 Super Bowl
. So we know these guys can
produce. There’s no doubt about their
ability.
The only question mark is their susceptibility to
injury. Can Vilma recover from the knee injury
that sidelined him for nine games last season?
(By the way, I’d love for someone with any sort
of medical knowledge explain to me what happened to his
knee. A piece of dead bone became
dislodged? What the hell does that mean? I
didn’t know bone could just die and then break
off like some sort of rotten tree branch. Has
anyone ever heard of this injury?)
As for Morgan, will he be able to play with the
reckless abandon that makes him so good now that
he’s only a couple of concussions away from brain
damage?
There’s really no way to tell for sure right
now. But one thing I do know for certain is that
these guys are motivated. They’re confident
and probably cocky and most definitely eager to show
the world they’ve still got it. You know
why? Because they’re from the U and
that’s what guys from the U do.
Another plus about the addition of Vilma and Morgan is
that New Orleans isn’t really invested too deeply
into either guy. Morgan signed a one year
contract for not that much money and Vilma was
exchanged for a meager 4th round pick.
He’ll also be a free agent after next
season. So even if they don’t pan out, the
Saints won’t have lost that much.
So the linebacker position has been addressed.
I’d like to see the Saints pick up another LB in
the draft for depth purposes. A guy like Ali
Highsmith out of LSU would fit the mold.
Highsmith was originally predicted to be a late first
or early second round pick this year, until he ran a
5.0 forty at the combine. He immediately dropped
way down on everyone’s draft board, so the Saints
might be able to nab him in the fourth or fifth round.
Either way, I feel pretty good about who’ll
lining up at linebacker for New Orleans this
season.
(mvn.com)
Mar/19/08 06:18 PM Filed in:
Andre Johnson
HOUSTON, TX — In what he later described as
“one of the greatest moments of my life,”
Andre Johnson was recognized Thursday during a
seemingly routine trip to a Houston-area Gap store.
“I’m just standing there, and some kid
says, ‘Hey, you’re Andre Johnson, from the
Texans, right?’” Johnson told SSNN.
“I was floored. Stunned. It was right then I knew
that I’d made it.”
The encounter took place at the sweaters display, where
Johnson was intently considering whether or not he
could pull off an argyle vest. It was an interesting
moment as well for 14-year-old Danny Templin, who
spotted Johnson.
“I look over, and there’s this dude who
looks like Andre Johnson in the Gap,” Templin
said. “But he was wearing an Andre Johnson
jersey, which I thought was a little weird and maybe
meant it wasn’t him. So I wasn’t going to
ask him, because I didn’t want to be the guy who
thinks that every black guy in a jersey is an athlete.
But DreJay saw me eying him, I guess, and called me
over; so that’s sort of how it went down. He
seemed pretty excited to meet me.”
According to Johnson, this is only the second time in
his career that he has been recognized at a mall, in
spite of the fact that he visits them frequently to
“polish interpersonal skills.”
“Yeah, you don’t get recognized that much
as a pro athlete,” Johnson said.
“It’s weird. These dudes like A-Rod and
Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady – you know, guys who
say they can’t go outside of their house? Those
guys are probably exaggerating. That sort of public
awareness runs counter to my experience.”
In spite of it all, Johnson was touched by the
encounter.
“It was really cute, he was really
nervous,” Johnson said of Templin. “He was
so nervous that he didn’t even remember to ask me
for my autograph, and when I reminded him, he said
‘don’t worry about it.’ To be that
nervous and scared, he must be a huge fan. I was
touched.”
(seriousportsnewsnetwork.com)
Mar/19/08 06:17 PM Filed in:
Antrel Rolle
As position battles go, you could certainly make a case
for the No. 3 WR job generating the biggest buzz in the
desert these days, now that free agent Bryant Johnson
has signed with the division-rival Niners. “It
couldn’t be more wide-open at the moment,”
one team source said. But our vote goes to the battle
at free safety that is expected to take place between
converted CB Antrel Rolle, the team’s 2005
first-round pick, and hard-hitting fellow fourth-year
pro Aaron Francisco. At this year’s Scouting
Combine, Cardinals GM Rod Graves confirmed the
team’s optimism about Rolle’s ability to
effectively switch positions and upgrade a 2007 problem
area. “The one thing we learned with Antrel was
that there was a real confidence level when he was
operating in the middle of the field,” Graves
told PFW. “He is a great open-field tackler, and
the tackling at the safety position (particularly by
the recently released Terrence Holt) was a big problem.
Antrel has been very receptive to the move.” But
team insiders don’t expect Francisco — a
smart, physical player when healthy — to go down
without a fight in the battle for the FS job. In any
event, Rolle is expected to continue operating as the
nickel corner on occasion, which he did so well in
2007. As a result, he will likely be on the
field at the same time as Francisco quite
often.
(profootballweekly.com)
Mar/19/08 06:15 PM Filed in:
Sean Taylor
When Miami police got to Sean Taylor’s house Nov.
26, they found pry marks on a wooden door and a
shattered glass sliding door, shot open apparently by a
9 mm gun.
The crime scene reports leave clues about the entry and
departure of the intruders. About three dozen pages of
documents were released Wednesday by the Miami-Dade
State Attorney’s Office as part of public
information requests by news-press.com.
Eric Rivera, Venjah Hunte and Charles Wardlow, all of
Fort Myers, and Jason Mitchell of Lehigh Acres are
charged with murder and armed robbery in connection
with Taylor’s death. The Washington Redskins
All-Pro safety was shot in the leg Nov. 26 and died the
next day due to blood loss.
Detectives found three bullet casings in the house,
where the intruders came in through the back patio
bathroom door, as well as shoe prints above the gate
surrounding Taylor’s house. Detectives sent labs
shoe-print impressions, DNA swab kits from inside and
outside of the house as well as a paper receipt found
outside the front of the house.
Also included in the documents is a report from Dec. 1,
when Miami-Dade police divers searched an area of
Interstate 75, looking for the weapon used to shoot
Taylor. Detectives searched beyond a fence, one mile
west of a toll plaza and north of the interstate. Two
searches were fruitless for divers.
(news-press.com)
Mar/19/08 06:15 PM Filed in:
John Salmons
John Salmons played on Tuesday despite a bothersome
right ankle. He said X-rays came back negative and he
doesn't plan on missing any games. "We've got a lot of
time off coming in a couple of weeks," Salmons said.
His value is limited coming off the Kings bench, but on
the off chance Ron Artest shuts it down for the season
Salmons should immediately be picked up.
(rotoworld.com)
Mar/19/08 06:14 PM Filed in:
Ryan Braun
Peoria, Ariz. - Ryan Braun was scratched from the
Brewers' lineup today with "right Achilles tightness,"
the second time in five days he was removed for that
same problem.
Braun now will have played just once in the last five
games. He was scratched last Wednesday, did not play
Thursday, did play Friday, did not play Saturday and
now has been scratched today.
We have been told that the situation is not serious,
that it has been more precautionary than anything. But
you do have to wonder if this is going to be a
lingering thing for Braun. We'll get more details on
the situation and post them later.
(blogs.jsonline.com)
Mar/19/08 08:27 AM Filed in:
Kenny
Phillips
When NFL teams assemble a defense, they generally
adhere to a long-standing philosophy: build from the
ball out. Get the linemen first. Linebackers and
cornerbacks figure as high priorities. Then what?
Safeties. Can't forget them.
But safeties last? That's almost an affront to the
University of Miami (Fla.), which tends to turn out
safeties first.
"Da U" has produced a number of safeties who were
first-round picks, including perennial Baltimore Ravens
All-Pro Ed Reed, late Washington Redskin Sean Taylor
and the New England Patriots' Brandon Meriweather.
Kenny Phillips would like to expand that number.
Sure, the tradition of great safeties is, well, great.
But how does it help Phillips, widely viewed as the
only likely first-round pick in a weak 2008 class at
that position?
It has already been beneficial in several ways.
Meriweather, says Phillips, befriended him from the
start at Miami and helped him learn how to learn.
"When I first came in, he was the one that taught me
the plays. He really took me under his wing and taught
me everything I know. I talk to him every week,"
Phillips says.
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Mar/19/08 08:25 AM Filed in:
William
Joseph
Without further ado, then, to welcome Mr. Joseph
aboard, here are 10 things you need to know about the
big guy.
• A former Miami Hurricane, Joseph was a No. 25
pick in the 2003 draft, taken by the New York Giants in
the opening round. Drafted just after Dallas Clark,
Joseph got the first-round call before current Raider
Kwame Harris, Nick Barnett and Nnamdi Asomuga.
• His very first game in that 2003 season may have
been Joseph's greatest in his entire career with one
sack and one forced fumble recovered by his team for a
TD.
• Though Joseph remained a member of the Giants
through Super Bowl XLII, he was actually only active
for one game last season - opening day - and didn't see
action. Shortly after Week 1, Joseph was placed on
injured reserve. Injuries have been the bane of
Joseph's NFL existence these past few seasons, with 25
of 51 possible games missed.
• Thanks to the injuries, Joseph is
habitually called a
"disappointment" by the media (while
playing in New York; imagine that). And check out
this
writer, who labels Joseph "one of the
least popular players in Giants history," before
incidentally going on to take a random swipe: "For some
strange reason, the Raiders decided Joseph would be an
asset to their defense. Oh, well (sic)...guess that's
why they're the Raiders." (Now, Raider Nation, don't
get too upset: As a Bills fan, this guy clearly has a
lot of repressed hostility and frustration.)
• Ironically, the man taking Joseph's starting
spot and earning his Super Bowl ring when he went down
was ... Raider castoff Dave Tollefson.
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Mar/19/08 08:24 AM Filed in:
Robert Hite
Galatasaray Cafe Crown advanced to a ULEB Cup Final
Eight showdown with fellow Turkish club Besiktas
despite an 88-79 loss at Kalise Gran Canaria in the
Last 16 return leg. Armed with a 25-point first-leg
win, Robert Hite’s 20 points and 8 rebounds led
four Galatasaray players in double figures for a
178-162 aggregate victory over the two games. Cuneyt
Erden hit 5 three-pointers for 15 points and had 5
assists while Dee Brown and Chris Owens both had 15
points as well. Carl English tallied 24 points in a
losing effort, Kornel David added 12 and Roberto Guerra
had 11.
(basketboltr.net)
Mar/18/08 10:59 PM Filed in:
Bryant
McKinnie
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings coach
Brad Childress said the team will wait out the legal
system and the NFL before determining whether Bryant
McKinnie needs to be disciplined following a fight
outside a Miami night club.
"The legal system is obviously what's in play here for
starters," Childress told reporters Tuesday at team
headquarters. "It's difficult to talk about. The legal
system is what it is. Time kind of seems like it goes
through an hour glass. It grinds. It doesn't usually
fast track."
Childress was careful not to pass judgment on McKinnie,
and he spoke cautiously about the situation.
McKinnie has pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces
including aggravated battery, which is a felony, and
three misdemeanors after a street brawl outside Club
Space in February.
Since taking over two years ago, Childress has demanded
accountability from his players, both on the field and
off.
Owner Zygi Wilf made it clear after coach Mike Tice was
fired that he would not tolerate embarrassing behavior
like the infamous "Love Boat" scandal, and Childress
hasn't hesitated to punish players for misbehaving.
McKinnie's next court date is April 11. Regardless of
the outcome with authorities, NFL commissioner Roger
Goodell could still decide to levy some sort of
disciplinary action, as could the Vikings.
"I'd just say we've been consistent, the Wilfs have
been consistent, with the way we want the Vikings to be
represented," Childress said. "I know what Zygi's
values are and I know what my values are and I know
what our collective Vikings values are.
"I'm looking for the right words here. It's difficult."
McKinnie is an anchor on the left side of the line
along with All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson and Pro Bowl
center Matt Birk, who helped pave the way for Adrian
Peterson and Chester Taylor last year.
When asked if McKinnie, who signed a seven-year, $48.5
million contract extension in 2006, is still considered
one of the building blocks of his team, Childress
hesitated.
"I know you don't want to hear, 'Until I get all the
facts,"' he said. "But we could face some difficult
decisions down the road. Some are tougher than others."
McKinnie's trouble is just one of the problems facing
the Vikings this offseason.
(usatoday.com)
Mar/18/08 07:49 AM Filed in:
Chris Myers
New Texans center Chris Myers called his exit from
Denver "bittersweet" for many reasons, but the trade
that brought him to Houston on Monday has given him
financial security and a starting job for the next few
years if the coaches are right about him.
Myers, 26, was acquired by the Texans for a sixth-round
draft choice. Before general manager Rick Smith
completed the deal, he and agent Drew Rosenhaus agreed
on a four-year, $11 million contract that included a $3
million signing bonus for Myers.
Myers (6-5, 295) had to sign the contract with the
Broncos before they could trade him.
"It was kind of a bittersweet-type thing," Myers said.
"I love Denver, love the organization, love the team,
and I had a great time there for three seasons. I kind
of made my way up the ladder and finally got a starting
position last year."
Click here to continue
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Mar/17/08 08:22 PM Filed in:
Jonathan
Vilma
Vilma spoke with reporters and updated the health of
his surgically repaired right knee. "I plan to spend as
much time as I can here in New Orleans," said Vilma,
who arrived Sunday night. "Of course, I've been
rehabbing down in Miami and I have a trainer down
there, so both trainers will be talking with each other
and deciding what's best for me. I don't want to give a
percentage, but I'll say I'm right where I need to be.
It's been progressing very well and I haven't had any
setbacks, knock on wood."
(blog.nola.com)
Mar/17/08 05:51 PM Filed in:
Chris Myers
ENGLEWOOD — In their first roster move since
firing general manager Ted Sundquist, the Broncos
worked a sign-and-trade deal with the Houston Texans
today for center/guard Chris Myers.
Myers, a restricted free agent, worked out a four-year,
$11 million deal that includes $3 million in guaranteed
money with the Broncos and then Myers and the new deal
were traded to the Texans for a sixth-round pick in
next month's draft.
The Broncos could have matched any offer to Myers, who
just finished his third season with the team since
being sixth-round pick in the 2005 draft. Myers could
play both center and guard.
He started five games at guard this past season and 11
at center for the injured Tom Nalen.
(rockymountainnews.com)
Mar/17/08 05:51 PM Filed in:
Bryant
McKinnie
Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie, who was arrested
last month and charged with aggravated battery,
disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, pleaded not
guilty today, Sean Jensen of the Star-Tribune reports.
McKinnie is accused of spitting in the face of a
bouncer who kicked him out of a club in his hometown of
Miami, and then leaving the club only to return, shove
his phone in the bouncer's face and then pick up a
heavy pole and hit the bouncer with it.
For now we don't know enough to judge the merits of the
legal case against him, but it does appear safe to say
that McKinnie is going to need to demonstrate that the
accusations are totally false if he wants to avoid a
suspension. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has made
clear that he doesn't have to wait until a player is
convicted of a crime before he issues a suspension: An
arrest alone is enough to warrant a suspension,
especially for players who aren't first-time offenders
of the NFL's personal conduct policy.
McKinnie was already once docked a paycheck by the NFL
and has been arrested twice in the last three years,
once in October 2005 for a disturbance at a Minneapolis
gas station, and once when he and some teammates were
accused of doing some things they shouldn't have during
a boat party. These latest accusations are more serious
than those previous incidents, meaning Goodell is very
likely to suspend McKinnie for the start of the 2008
season.
(sports.aol.com)
Mar/17/08 05:51 PM Filed in:
Bubba Franks
The Jets will open their offseason program Monday with
several new faces, including former Packers TE Bubba
Franks. The former Pro Bowler agreed to terms Sunday on
a one-year, $1.65 million contract, according to an NFL
source. But the Jets could be without at least two
mainstays.
(nydailynews.com)
Mar/17/08 05:48 PM Filed in:
Jeremy
Shockey
Eli Manning has "made it clear" that he wants Jeremy
Shockey back with the Giants this season, according to
ESPN's Chris Mortensen. Mort confirms reports that the
Giants have taken several calls about Shockey, but
still have no intentions of moving him. Manning is
reportedly excited about the prospect of using more
two-tight end sets with Shockey and Kevin Boss. The
Giants might trade Shockey for a first-round pick, but
no team is likely to offer that much for a player
coming off a broken leg.
(rotoworld.com)
Mar/17/08 04:48 PM Filed in:
Ryan Braun
Braun was scratched from Sunday's spring training game
due to lingering tightness in his right Achilles'
tendon, the team's official web site reports. "We don't
know what's bringing it on," manager Ned Yost said. "It
might be a new pair of shoes that he put on. It might
be an exercise program that he was doing. He's got
stiffness in his Achilles and there's no sense taking
chances. ... I don't see it to be anything major."
(rotowire.com)
Mar/17/08 08:08 AM Filed in:
Bubba Franks
When evaluating the Bubba Franks signing, it’s
important to remember one thing: They didn’t get
him to be a starter. He will back up Chris Baker. I
don’t have the contract figures yet, but
I’m sure they didn’t break the bank.
Here are a few notables about Franks (6-6, 265), who
turned 30 in January:
• From 2001 to 2004, he was one of the most
productive red-zone receivers in the league. In that
span, he had 35 receptions inside the 20, including 25
touchdowns. From 2005 to 2007, he was a non-factor in
the red zone - seven catches, no TDs.
• In August, 2005, he signed a seven-year, $28
million contract. He played in only 10 games that year
because of an injury. In 2006, he was awful. According
to football maven Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Franks dropped six of 53 passes (the worst
ratio of his career), fumbled twice, allowed 3 1/2
sacks and 9 1/2 pressures.
• In 2007, Franks lost the starting job to Donald
Lee. As a backup, Franks participated in only 25% of
the offensive snaps (he missed eight games with a torn
PCL in his knee that didn’t require surgery). He
had only one drop, zero penalties and no QB pressures.
He finished with a career-low 18 receptions, including
three TDs. According to my man McGinn, who knows
everything about the Packers, Franks played reasonably
well and did a decent job as a run blocker. That,
I’m sure, will be his role with the Jets.
The Packers cut him because he was due to make $3
million in base salary this year.
(nydailynews.com)
Mar/17/08 08:08 AM Filed in:
Bubba Franks
Continuing their trend of signing size, the Jets have
acquired a tight end named Bubba. Bubba Franks, a
three-time Pro Bowl selection whose last few seasons
were disrupted by injuries, has agreed to a free-agent
contract with the Jets. He was cut by the Packers last
month. The Jets had been looking for a blocking backup
for Chris Baker and were in discussions with restricted
free agent Ben Utecht last week. When Utecht, formerly
of the Colts, signed an offer sheet from the Bengals,
the Jets focused on and lured Franks. Franks (6-6, 265)
caught at least 30 passes in each of his first five
years with the Packers, in which he played in every
game. Last year, though, he played in only eight games
because of a knee injury and caught 18 passes for 132
yards and three touchdowns.
(newsday.com)
Mar/17/08 08:07 AM Filed in:
Jason
Michaels
Indians outfielder Jason Michaels is drawing interest
from about a half a dozen teams, according to the Plain
Dealer. Michaels hit .270 with 7 HR in 105 games last
season, but is a pretty decent fielder who is off to a
solid spring start. He is a leader in the Indians
clubhouse and could help out any team who needs a
filler because of an injury. The Mets and Rays are two
teams that come to mind because Michaels does not have
a big contract, and will not take much to land in a
trade. The Indians have Ben Francisco and Franklin
Guitierrez in the outfield and they could platoon in
right field in 2008. Both are solid players and one of
the two will most likely become their everyday starter.
Other teams that might take a look include the Padres
and Rangers.
(mlb-rumors.blogspot.com)